As previously reported, Dark Was the Night arrives on double CD, triple LP, or download February 17 from 4AD, benefiting both your record collection and Red Hot's AIDS-fighting efforts around the world. It's Red Hot's 20th such compilation, released in conjunction with the organization's 20th anniversary, and they pulled out all the stops for this celebration.

Deep breath...

Sufjan Stevens turns in a track of his own, and he also appears on a Buck 65 remix alongside Chicago rapper Serengeti. Feist joins Grizzly Bear for a track and Death Cab for Cutie's Ben Gibbard for another, and the Grizz turn in a tune by themselves. Conor Oberst is joined by Gillian Welch, David Byrne joins the Dirty Projectors, José González jumps on a cover of Nick Drake's "Cello Song" with the Books, and Blonde Redhead meet up with Devastations. Spoon's got a song on there, as do Arcade Fire, the Decemberists, Cat Power and Dirty Delta Blues, Belle and Sebastian's Stuart Murdoch, Yo La Tengo, Kevin Drew of Broken Social Scene, Beirut, Iron and Wine, Andrew Bird, My Morning Jacket, the New Pornographers, Beach House, Yeasayer, Sigur Rós offshoot Riceboy Sleeps, Bon Iver, TV on the Radio's Dave Sitek, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Yeasayer, My Brightest Diamond (doing "Feeling Good", made famous by Nina Simone), and the Kronos Quartet, doing the Blind Willie Johnson song "Dark Was the Night".

The National boys, not content to stay put in the curator's chair, turn in quite a few appearances on the thing as well. Bryce Dessner is joined by Antony Hegarty on a track, Bon Iver and Aaron Dessner join forces for a tune, and the National themselves loan one to the proceedings.

On a related note, today (December 1) is World AIDS Day. To find out how you can pitch in, visit worldaidscampaign.org.